United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) has expressed deep concern, strong anger, and outrage over the attacks, vandalism, and arson at the offices of the national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital, as well as the assault on New Age Editor Nurul Kabir. At the same time, the organization has demanded the swift identification, arrest, and exemplary punishment of those involved in these incidents. In a statement sent to the media on Friday, DUJA expressed its condemnation and anger. The statement said that the attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and the assault on Editor Nurul Kabir, are blatant attacks on independent journalism. Those who fear the power of the pen resort to such acts of terror. The truth cannot be silenced by intimidating journalists. The statement further said that attacks on media offices and the physical harassment of a senior editor are not isolated incidents; rather, they constitute a direct and explicit assault on independent journalism, freedom of expression, and the public’s right to know. Such attacks aimed at silencing the media prove that the perpetrators are staunch enemies of democracy, transparency, and accountability. DUJA also said that newspaper offices can never be legitimate targets of attack. Ensuring the safety of journalists and editors is a fundamental responsibility of the state. Attacks on media houses and journalists with the intent to suppress dissent, stifle critical journalism, and create fear are an alarming sign that pushes society and the democratic system toward uncertainty.

Students of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University on Friday demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the killing of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and the assault on New Age editor Nurul Kabir. In a statement, the students expressed deep concern and outrage over the incidents. They offered condolences to Hadi’s bereaved family, praying for his soul, and urged immediate arrest and legal action against the perpetrators. The statement highlighted that a vested extremist group exploited Hadi’s killing to carry out vandalism, arson, and looting at leading media outlets and the cultural institution Chhayanaut. The assault on Nurul Kabir was also strongly condemned. The students said such attacks directly threaten press freedom, freedom of expression, and are contrary to the spirit of the July uprising. They criticized the interim government, noting that nearly a week after Hadi was shot, the perpetrators have yet to be arrested, with reports suggesting they fled to India. The students called on citizens to maintain peaceful protests and avoid violence while urging the government to take strict and effective measures to ensure the safety of people, media, cultural institutions, and public and private property.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and ARTICLE 19 have expressed grave concern over violent attacks on leading Bangladeshi media houses and cultural institutions following recent unrest in the capital. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it is alarmed by reports that crowds vandalised and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, trapping journalists inside before they were rescued. In a statement on Friday, CPJ said it is monitoring the situation closely and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and news outlets and to hold those responsible accountable. CPJ also shared safety guidance for journalists covering political rallies and protests, outlining measures to reduce risks in situations involving crowd violence. Meanwhile, ARTICLE 19 strongly condemned the attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the assault on New Age Editor and Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir, and vandalism of the cultural institution Chhayanaut. ARTICLE 19 said the violence erupted on Thursday, December 18, in the aftermath of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure of the July 2024 uprising and convenor of Inqilab Moncho. The organisation noted that both Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have faced sustained threats from extremist groups in recent times. According to multiple reports, mobs vandalised and torched the Prothom Alo building in Karwan Bazar before attacking the Daily Star office in Farmgate, where staff were trapped until firefighters and security personnel intervened. Both newspapers were forced to suspend their Friday print and online editions. ARTICLE 19 said the attacks reflect a growing climate of impunity and urged the interim government to ensure immediate protection for media and cultural institutions, deploy adequate security, and take swift legal action against the perpetrators to safeguard freedom of expression ahead of the 2026 national elections.

The half-decomposed body of a missing police constable, Akhtaruzzaman (46), a resident of Chougachha upazila in Jashore, was recovered from Panchagarh, police said. The body was found on Thursday, December 18 in a sugarcane field at the Nine Mile area of Satmora Union in Panchagarh Sadar upazila. Family members were informed of the recovery on Friday. Akhtaruzzaman had been missing for about 22 days. He was initially identified from police-logo underwear found on the body. Later, the victim’s wife identified him after being shown photographs of the clothes — trousers, shirt and shoes — he was wearing. According to police, local residents informed the authorities after a foul smell spread in the area. Police recovered the body and completed legal formalities. With no immediate identification available, investigators relied on the police-logo underwear as the first clue. Panchagarh Sadar Police Station Sub-Inspector Belal Hossain, the investigating officer, said the body has been kept at the police station and will be sent for autopsy once family members arrive, after which it will be handed over to them. Akhtaruzzaman’s brother-in-law Mamunur Rashid Mamun said the family left for Panchagarh on Friday night after receiving the news. Akhtaruzzaman was serving at Rampal Police Station in Bagerhat district under the Khulna Range (BP No. 8403024644). He was the son of late Anichur Biswas of Jamlata village under Singhojuli Union in Chougachha upazila. Family sources said he lived with his wife and children in a rented house in Ichhapur area of Chougachha town. His wife, Shahina Akhtar Shima, filed a general diary with Chougachha Police Station on November 30, stating that he had left home on November 27 saying he was going to Maheshpur. He left behind his two mobile phones at home and never returned. Chougachha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Karim confirmed the recovery of the body.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday issued seven traffic directives ahead of the Janaza of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, scheduled to be held on Saturday (Dec 20) after Zohr prayers at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. In a press release issued Friday night, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said a large gathering is expected, which will restrict vehicular movement on Manik Mia Avenue. For the convenience of the Janaza, traffic from Khejur Bagan Crossing to Manik Mia Avenue will remain closed during the event. To ensure smooth traffic management, city residents and drivers have been requested to follow the following alternative routes: Mirpur Road to Farmgate via Manik Mia Avenue: Vehicles coming from the north toward Farmgate or Sonargaon should proceed via Ganabhaban Crossing–Lake Road–Urojahaj Crossing–Bijoy Sarani Crossing, then turn right toward Farmgate. Farmgate to Manik Mia Avenue via Indira Road: Vehicles should move from Farmgate to Khejur Bagan Crossing, turn right toward Urojahaj Crossing, then turn left onto Lake Road and proceed toward Ganabhaban Crossing. Dhanmondi to Farmgate: Vehicles from Dhanmondi-27 should go via Asad Gate–Ganabhaban Crossing, make a U-turn to Lake Road–Urojahaj Crossing–Bijoy Sarani Crossing, then turn right toward Farmgate. Asad Gate to Farmgate Crossing: Vehicles should turn left at Asad Gate, then right at Ganabhaban Crossing, proceed via Lake Road–Urojahaj Crossing–Bijoy Sarani Crossing, and turn right toward Farmgate Crossing. Elevated Expressway or Indira Road to Dhanmondi: Vehicles should turn right at Khejur Bagan Crossing, proceed to Urojahaj Crossing, turn left to Lake Road, then left again at Asad Gate and continue toward Dhanmondi. Mirpur Road to Dhanmondi-27: As the blockade on Manik Mia Avenue will be lifted for this route, southbound vehicles from Mirpur Road should use Shyamoli–Shishu Mela–Ganabhaban–Asad Gate and proceed straight toward Dhanmondi-27. Vehicles using the Elevated Expressway: During the Janaza, vehicles are requested to use the FDC (Hatirjheel) exit ramp instead of the Farmgate exit ramp. The DMP has urged all drivers to avoid the Manik Mia Avenue area from Saturday morning until the completion of the Janaza and burial, and to strictly follow the prescribed traffic instructions. For security reasons and to avoid inconvenience, attendees have also been requested not to carry any bags or heavy items. The DMP sought the full cooperation of city residents to ensure orderly traffic management and overall security.

Jagannath University (JnU) authorities have arranged transportation for students, teachers, and all concerned to attend the funeral of martyred Sharif Osman Hadi. In a message sent by the university’s Public Relations, Information and Publication Office, it was stated that buses will depart from the Jagannath University campus to Manik Mia Avenue at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 20. Those wishing to attend the funeral have been requested to be present on campus on time. Earlier, on December 12 in the afternoon, Sharif Osman bin Hadi,an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency and spokesperson of the ‘Inqilab Mancha’ was seriously injured after being shot by assailants while returning from election campaigning. He was initially admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital for advanced treatment. As his condition deteriorated, he was flown by air ambulance to Singapore General Hospital on December 15. He passed away while undergoing treatment there yesterday, Thursday. His funeral will be held tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Manik Mia Avenue.

Strongly denouncing the wave of violent attacks at different parts of the the country, including those targeting media houses, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday night alleged that a long-identified vested quarter is deliberately trying to push Bangladesh into chaos to establish 'a new form of fascism'. Speaking at a press conference after an emergency meeting of the BNP Standing Committee at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also condemned the killing of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi and urged the pace-loving political and social forces to unite to foil all attempts to obstruct the democratic transition. “Inquilab Moncho Chief Sharif Osman Hadi died prematurely while undergoing medical treatment in Singapore. We strongly condemn and express our deep abhorrence over this cowardly killing. We once again demand the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and that they be brought to justice without delay,” Fakhrul said. Following this tragic death, Fakhrul said, a group of unruly people carried out arson attacks late last night on the offices of several newspapers, including Prothom Alo and the English daily The Daily Star. The BNP leader said these attacks seriously endangered the lives of journalists who were on duty at the two newspaper offices. He also said an attack was carried out on Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age and president of the Editors’ Council, describing him as a prominent and courageous journalist involved in the anti-fascist July movement and other democratic movements in the country. Besides, Fakhrul said, various cultural institutions, including Chhayanaut, were also attacked. “We strongly condemn and express our deep hatred for these heinous acts. These incidents prove that a long-identified vested quarter wants to push the country towards anarchy in a planned manner. They are trying to create a new form of fascism by destroying our voting and democratic rights earned through immense bloodshed,” he said. Fakhrul lamented that these activities are being carried out openly, right under the nose of the government. “People also believe that the government’s role has not been satisfactory. As a result, the country’s image abroad is being damaged,” he said. The BNP leader said almost all political parties have protested against Hadi’s killing and are putting pressure on the government to arrest the killers and ensure justice. “In this situation, we believe that these disgraceful attacks are part of a conspiracy to create uncertainty around the upcoming national election and to obstruct the process of democratic transition,” Fakhrul said. On behalf of the peace-loving people of the country, he said BNP wants to warn those despicable conspirators that it will not allow anyone to destroy the country won at the cost of so much blood. The BNP leader urged all democratic, political and social forces to remain united against anarchy created by vested quarter. “This evil force must be resisted through unity. There is no alternative now but for all political and social forces opposed to chaos to unite in order to resist this conspiracy. Through such unity, we ensured the fall of fascism and secured an interim government and a national election. In continuation of that struggle, we once again call upon all patriotic forces to unite,” he said. Fakhrul cited a series of violent incidents following Hadi’s death, including attacks on the Indian High Commission office and its staff residences in Khulna and Chattogram, arson and vandalism at Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices in Dhaka and Rajshahi, vandalism and arson at Dhanmondi 32, the Chhayanaut office and the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, the destruction of shops in Uttara, attacks on the house of an Awami League leader, the killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh over allegations of religious desecration, vandalism and arson at the residence of late Chattogram mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury and the house of former minister Bir Bahadur, and the attack on New Age Editor Nurul Kabir. Hadi, a prospective candidate for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election from the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan, Dhaka. He initially underwent surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital. For advanced treatment, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he passed away on Thursday night.

The Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) on Friday expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over attacks, vandalism, and arson at the offices of leading dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. In a joint statement, Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir and NOAB President A.K. Azad said the attacks are not just assaults on the media but on society and democratic values. They noted that significant infrastructure was damaged and journalists’ lives were put at risk. The statement said the incidents are part of a disturbing trend of mob violence, reflecting the interim government’s failure to maintain law and order. Law enforcement agencies failed to act effectively to prevent the crime. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, assuring them of their safety. The Editors’ Council and NOAB, however, held the government responsible for failing to control the situation. The bodies demanded the perpetrators be swiftly identified, arrested, and punished as an example. They also called on professionals, business leaders, civil society, political parties, and journalists’ organizations to stand in solidarity.

Former organizational secretary of Mymensingh Metropolitan Awami League, Kazi Manzur Morshed Raju, died Friday afternoon after sustaining critical injuries while trying to evade arrest by jumping from the second floor of his house. The incident occurred Thursday around 8:00 pm when a team from Kotwali Police Station visited Raju’s residence looking for him. Sensing the police presence, he attempted to escape by jumping from the balcony but struck an adjoining boundary wall, suffering severe head and body injuries. Locals later found him unconscious and bleeding and informed his family. He was admitted to a private hospital in Charpara, where he underwent brain surgery but was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm on Friday. Following the killing of Osman Hadi, Mymensingh police launched an operation targeting Awami League leaders and activists, including Raju. Police said he was not involved in any recent criminal cases and had not been active in politics for the past 8–10 years. Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmus Sakib said police regularly conduct arrest operations. He added that the police team left the scene after Raju did not open the gate, and they are unaware of what occurred afterward. Raju’s wife, Sathi, confirmed that he had been living a normal life since August 5 and had no pending legal cases.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) recovered 422 stolen mobile phones during raids at Karimullah Market and other locations in the city, arresting four individuals allegedly involved in mobile phone theft. The operations were conducted throughout Thursday, Dec 18, by the SMP Detective Branch (DB), said Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury at a press conference on Friday afternoon. He identified the four arrested as key figures in the city’s mobile phone theft network. During the raids, police recovered 38 phones from Tanvir’s residence in Mominkhala, South Surma. Tanvir and several others fled, but one suspect, Md. Sujjad, was later apprehended. Another major operation at Abdus Shahid’s house in Jainpur, South Surma, yielded 204 stolen phones, while 154 more phones were recovered from a smartphone gallery on the third floor of Karimullah Market. The Commissioner said the recovered phones included various smartphone brands, many of which had their IMEI numbers altered for illegal resale. Preliminary interrogations revealed the suspects had been collecting stolen phones from different areas of Sylhet for resale, supplying them to other districts. Along with the phones, police seized accessories, technical equipment, pen drives, and DSLR cameras. Abdus Shahid, the mastermind of the network, faces eight cases, including murder. The other three arrested are Md. Ayub Ali (Shahid’s father-in-law), Akram Ali (his nephew), and Md. Sujjad from Mominkhala. Authorities are verifying IMEI numbers to identify the phones’ rightful owners. Legal actions have been taken against the suspects, and further operations are ongoing to apprehend others involved in the theft ring.